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Memories & Candles

“As a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at SMU in the early 80s, we were well aware of Dr. Rubottom's contributions to LXA, to SMU and to the...Read More »
”
1 of 12 | Posted by: Bob King - Houston, TX - student

“I first met Dick and Billy at the Bahamas Lambda Chi Alpha General Assembly. They later hosted me in their home in Mexico when Dick was President of...Read More »
”
2 of 12 | Posted by: James M. Brasher III - New York, NY

“Uncle Dick was a wonderful and inspirational man...I hope our family will continue his great legacy for generations
”
4 of 12 | Posted by: Alethea Johnson - Great Niece

“I first met Dr. Rubottom as a student at SMU in the mid 1970s while he was in charge of the Latin American Studies area. I've never forgotten the...Read More »
”
5 of 12 | Posted by: Lolis Longoria Dignan - Dallas, TX

“My life was honored for knowing Richard (Dick) Rubottom He was a great man I'm just so lucky to have met and got to know him. My heart goes out to...Read More »
”
6 of 12 | Posted by: Kurt Pyka - Dallas, TX

“Dick was a gentle giant. We shared HPUMC and Rotary together. I followed him (a few years later) to SMU. Dick offered wisdom and encouragment to me...Read More »
”
7 of 12 | Posted by: Richard Neely - friend

“Dick was the consummate gentleman, scholar, and friend. I knew him through SMU, lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, and the Rotary club of dallas. He was...Read More »
”
8 of 12 | Posted by: MARK CULLUM - DALLAS, TX

“Dick was a longtime friend of my grandfather, Bob Wheelock of Corsicana, and was also an excellent role model and leader within Lambda Chi Alpha who...Read More »
”
9 of 12 | Posted by: Clint Wheelock - Boulder, CO

R. RichardRubottom, Jr., who had a distinguished career in the foreign service and higher education, died in Austin, Texas, on December 6 at the age of 98. His lengthy career included leadership positions with the U.S. Department of State, Southern Methodist University, University of the Americas and the City of Dallas.

Dick Rubottom was born in Brownwood, Texas, on February 13, 1912. He earned B.S. and M.A. degrees from SMU in 1932 and 1933. After leaving SMU, he studied Latin American relations at the University of Texas while employed as an Assistant Dean of Students. It was in Austin that he met and married Billy Ruth Young of Corsicana, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941. With positions in Naval Intelligence at posts in Mexico and Paraguay, he rose to the rank of Commander in the Navy during World War II, serving until 1946.

Following his military service, Rubottom joined the U.S. Department of State, where he served until 1964. He held several State Department posts in Latin America and Spain. As a junior Foreign Service officer he attended the first meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Bogotá, Columbia, and later served as the Director of the Economic Mission in Madrid, Spain. He returned to Washington first as Deputy, then as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs from 1956-60 with responsibilities including Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Argentina from 1960-61. He concluded his Foreign Service career at the rank of Career Minister as State Department adviser to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Following his career with the U.S. Department of State, Rubottom embarked on a second career in higher education at the age of 52. He returned to his alma mater, SMU, in 1964 as vice president for university life, later serving as administrative vice president and vice president for planning. In 1971 he left SMU to combine his interests in Latin America and higher education as president of the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico. He returned to SMU in 1973 as a professor of political science and scholar-in-residence. He was named professor emeritus in 1975.

Even after his retirement from SMU, Rubottom remained active in diplomacy and civic responsibilities. In 1985 he was enlisted by the City of Dallas to serve as director of the Dallas Office of International Affairs, a post he held for two years. He was twice president of the Dallas Rotary Club, and served on the national and international boards of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a consistent presence as a lay leader and was a member of the Administrative Board of the Highland Park United Methodist Church, serving as President in 1992. He was on the Executive Committee and Educational Foundation Board of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Through the years, he gave lectures and classes on Latin American affairs in the United States, Latin America and Europe. He consulted with state officials and policymakers over several decades.

His honors include the Superior Service Award from the U.S. Department of State, Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the Order of Achievement award from Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, the SMU Distinguished Alumni Award, H. Neil Mallon Award for Distinguished Civic Service from the Dallas Council on World Affairs and honorary doctorates from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, and Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri.

Ambassador Rubottom was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 69 years, Billy Ruth Young Rubottom. He is survived by his daughter, Eleanor Odden, (Allan), of Madison, Wisconsin; and sons Frank RichardRubottom of Houston, Texas and John William Rubottom, (Angie), of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by granddaughter Sarina Odden Meyer, (Brett), and great grandson Micah; grandson Robert Allan Odden; grandson John W. “Jay” Rubottom, (Suzanna); and granddaughter, Taylor Elizabeth Rubottom.

Two gatherings to celebrate his life are scheduled: An informal reception will be held on Sunday, December 12, 2010, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Summit Lakeway Health Center, 1917 Lohman’s Crossing, Austin, Texas 78734. A Memorial Service and reception will be held on January 15th, 2011, at the Highland Park United Methodist Church, at 10:00 a.m., 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent in his name to support the Rubottom Foreign Service Scholarship, Southern Methodist University (Development Office); Boy Scouts of America, Circle 10 Council, Dallas, Texas; Community Ministries, Highland Park United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas; Dallas Downtown Rotary Club; Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation, Indianapolis, IN.

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Memories & Candles

As a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at SMU in the early 80s, we were well aware of Dr. Rubottom's contributions to LXA, to SMU and to the nation. And he took great interest in us as well.

Later, as a young businessman in the early 90s, I found myself in the American embassy in Buenos Aires waiting to meet the ambassador, and came face to face with Dr. Rubottom's photo from his service as Ambassador to Argentina in

... more

As a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at SMU in the early 80s, we were well aware of Dr. Rubottom's contributions to LXA, to SMU and to the nation. And he took great interest in us as well.

Later, as a young businessman in the early 90s, I found myself in the American embassy in Buenos Aires waiting to meet the ambassador, and came face to face with Dr. Rubottom's photo from his service as Ambassador to Argentina in the Eisenhower administration.

I made a special trip to Dallas shortly thereafter to tell Dr. Rubottom about my trips to BA and about the liberalization of the economy that was in full bloom at the time. He was still very knowledgeable, interest and extremely helpful, not to mention very gracious to me about it. I will always remember our breakfast at Kuby's, which went from about 9am to almost 12noon. I got the impression that he could really hold court there at Kuby's.

I was a nobody to him, but he always had the time for his students.

God bless this great and decent man.

Posted by: Bob King - Houston, TX - student Jan 22, 2011

I first met Dick and Billy at the Bahamas Lambda Chi Alpha General Assembly. They later hosted me in their home in Mexico when Dick was President of the University of the Americans and he took me with him to a State Dinner in Mexico City. I will never forget Dick's Richard Nixon stories and enjoyed reading the version of them reported in the extra long New York Times obituary a few days ago. He was a towering diplomatic figure

... more

I first met Dick and Billy at the Bahamas Lambda Chi Alpha General Assembly. They later hosted me in their home in Mexico when Dick was President of the University of the Americans and he took me with him to a State Dinner in Mexico City. I will never forget Dick's Richard Nixon stories and enjoyed reading the version of them reported in the extra long New York Times obituary a few days ago. He was a towering diplomatic figure and I feel honored to have had his personal mentoring in the early 1970s.

He will always symbolize what integrity, brotherhood and statesmanship mean to me. Later, in the 1980s and 1990s when I was Special Assistant to Former President Jimmy Carter, I often thought about the experiences that Dick had related to me when I was Editor of the Cross and Crescent and Director of Development and Alumni Affairs of the Fraternity.

Uncle Dick was a wonderful and inspirational man...I hope our family will continue his great legacy for generations

Posted by: Alethea Johnson - Great Niece Dec 21, 2010

I first met Dr. Rubottom as a student at SMU in the mid 1970s while he was in charge of the Latin American Studies area. I've never forgotten the Latin American Politics class he taught. I later had the great privilege of working for him at the City of Dallas Office of International Affairs. I am very fortunate to have known him and to have been recipient of his knowledge, wisdom, and friendship. I extend my sincerest sympathies to his family. He will truly be missed.

Posted by: Lolis Longoria Dignan - Dallas, TX Dec 18, 2010

My life was honored for knowing Richard (Dick) Rubottom He was a great man I'm just so lucky to have met and got to know him. My heart goes out to you his family.---Sincerely Kurt Pyka

Dick was a gentle giant. We shared HPUMC and Rotary together. I followed him (a few years later) to SMU. Dick offered wisdom and encouragment to me a few years ago for which I am grateful. He will be missed.

Posted by: Richard Neely - friend Dec 14, 2010

Dick was the consummate gentleman, scholar, and friend. I knew him through SMU, lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, and the Rotary club of dallas. He was always thoughtful and well spoken and quick with a quick with a kind word. He will be remembered and missed for a long time to come.

Posted by: MARK CULLUM - DALLAS, TX Dec 14, 2010

Dick was a longtime friend of my grandfather, Bob Wheelock of Corsicana, and was also an excellent role model and leader within Lambda Chi Alpha who I came to know through our mutual involvement in the fraternity. He was a truly admirable man!

Posted by: Clint Wheelock - Boulder, CO Dec 11, 2010

Your parents were very close friends of my mother and father (Emily Stroud Settle & Halsey Settle) as well as my aunt & uncle , Clyde and Mariella Stroud both at SMU and afterwards. I remember meeting them at our house in Corsicana at dinner parties and was saddened to read of his death. My mother, Emily died in 1980 and my father in 1996 and the Strouds are both gone as well. It is a much better world because of their lives and they will all be missed very much. Happy Settle